Swiffer Pad Cover Knit Pattern

First off let me say, I'm not a pro pattern writer there may be mistakes, if you do find any please let me know.
I've made several of these pads over the years. I love the fact that I save money by not purchasing the disposable ones. I haven't used mine for wet purposes, but as a dry mop to pick up pet hair and those pesky dust bunnies it works great. Best part is too it doesn't take much yarn, I've used scraps less than 2 oz. Ok so here's what you need:

Cotton worsted weight yarn approximately 2-2 1/2 oz ( ex Bernat Cotton, Lily's Sugar'n Cream cotton)
Size 8 knitting needles
2 stitch markers
Measuring tape, tapestry needle, safety pins

PM= Place Marke
SM=Slip Marker
K= Knit
P=Purl
St= Stitches
 
To get started you will need the measurements of your swiffer mop. Measure the length then add 4 inches to that. Mine was 10" and I added 4 giving me 14 total.
Cast on 22 st.
Row 1: k across
Row 2: p across
Row 3: K3, (PM) *P1, K1* repeat  across to last 3 st (PM) K3
Row 4: P3, (SM) * K1, P1* repeat across to marker (SM) P3
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until  you have your total inches knitted ending with a Row 4. You will then repeat Rows 1-2 once and bind off.
Now you will want to fold the ends down 2 1/2 inches on either end and pin. By pinning  you can do a dry fit before you sew and adjust if needed. Just don't over stretch the fabric, it will shrink when washed. Then sew up the 4 sides wrong sides together. Flip out the pockets you just formed and slip it on  you mop. That's it your done!!!

Now if you've used the cotton yarn, your pad will shrink a little no worries, mine have always been fine and actually fit the mop better after washed.
If you don't want to used cotton, I'm sure you can use scraps of acrylic yarns, although I'm not sure how well they would be on different surfaces. I have only made mine in the cotton. HMMM I guess I need to test it in acrylics next :). But any who, if you do decide yourself to try it, use a worsted weight yarn and just be sure your gauge for the width is 5st to an inch, the height gauge doesn't matter as long as your width is correct. Follow the instructions above making sure to leave 3 sts at the beginning and end of the pattern, you may need to adjust the seed stitch (K1, P1) Also the length, because acrylic doesn't shrink, you may want to minus 1 inch from your mops length  So if your mop is 10 do 13 with the 4 and fold up each end 2 1/2 inches.
Again though I haven't tested it in the Acrylic so I can't guarantee it will fit the same.
I do hope you enjoy knitting this and please feel free to make as many of these as you wish for fun or profit.
Kaela :)

NOTE: I like the seed stitch for this seems to pick up better, but you could do other stitches on the 16 middle st. I've done this in a 2x2 rib, Stockinette st on 3 rows then reverse; so it has ridges. Diamond patterns, squares of k4 p4 for 4 rows then p4 k4 for 4 rows repeating etc....As long as the 3 sts at either end are worked in a stockinette st the possibilities are endless for the middle 16.